Progressive Politics in Minnesota, the Nation, and the World

Gun Safety Regulations Are Dependent On The Ballot Box

When asked specifically about expanding background checks, Daudt, R-Crown, responded that "behind-the-scenes" conversations between lawmakers are happening "to reduce putting guns in the hands of potentially dangerous criminals. I know we all share that goal. ... I hope those conversations can be fruitful and we can find some legislation that can get support of the Legislature."

Today, it was a different Kurt Daudt:

The speaker called background checks a "feel good solution" that would do little. He said that "everyone knows this is a pro-2nd Amendment Legislature" and any gun-related bills will not move before the Legislature adjourns May 21.

Huh.

Very different stances. What happened? Well I think this explains it...

"Obviously, there was some misunderstanding of our press conference," Daudt said late Thursday afternoon, after spending the day trying to make sure gun-rights advocates knew that he still supports them.

The gun rights advocates still win. At least for now. There is only one real way to solve this problem and that is an election where legislators who refuse to support gun safety regulation lose their seat.

Universal background checks have strong support in Minnesota. The MN Poll stated 90% in favor - only 8% against. Yet, Republicans in the legislature would rather stand with that 8%.

Background checks are no threat to legitimate gun ownership. Legal, law abiding gun owners have nothing to fear from this. I would dare say that most gun owners support this themselves.

We need to keep guns out of the hands of those who would abuse this privilege. How is that a problem? What law abiding gun owner is going to have any weapon of theirs taken away? Do they want severely mental ill people, suicidal people, or domestic abusers to get weapons? Do they really want to be complicit in the potential problems they might cause?

This idea was brought up as a potential amendment in the MN Senate today and it failed 36-30. Yes, a few Democrats voted with the Republicans, but not as many as have done so in the past.

The goal has to be defeating Republicans who will not allow gun safety to be moved forward in legislation. They MUST be voted out. It is the ONLY solution. And rogue Democrats will soon change as well.

Kurt Daudt Is Just Bad At His Job - Part 2

Kurt Daudt continues to be bad at his job. He has sent a letter to Donald Trump to discuss health care and mining - forgetting that he should be discussing all of that with our current governor first.

During the campaign, Daudt railed against the idea of one party government. That we needed to keep the House GOP in power to act as a check on those Democrats.

Well, now that he has that check plus a bonus in the Senate, he now acts like it is his perogative to simply move ahead with his own version of one party government. It is as though Dayton does not exist and that the Governor's opinion no longer matters.

If Daudt would get his health care waiver, it would seem prudent to negotiate a little with Gov. Dayton, because the waiver will mean nothing if you can't get anything past a veto.

Daudt is like Trump in that he cannot get out of campaign mode and act like someone willing to govern. He has let the Speaker position go to his head.

His arrogance and disrespect for our governor is shameful and his grandiose ideas of a Republican agenda seem to ignore the idea that 90,000 people descended upon the Capitol to say, wait a minute, you better listen to the rest of us.

Daudt and the House Republicans seem to be assuming that they have a durable majority now. That they can ride this urban/rural divide for as long as they want. Don't be too sure about that - if you are going to make all these changes to health care, you could be depriving a lot of rural hospitals and residents of things they have to come to count on....and will notice when they are gone.

Yeah, Daudt, you seem to be lost in your own rhetoric and think that the GOP is going to be riding high for a long time.

Continue to believe that - the lofty placement makes the fall that much harder.

Kurt Daudt Is Just Bad At His Job

Kurt Daudt needs to be held accountable. Really, how does he get away with this stuff?

A politician pulling the kind of stunts this guy does while Speaker of the House are really shameful.

Wasn't it nearly 3 months ago that Daudt got all haughty and puffed up and chastised the Democrats for the high premiums in the individual market? And then said something needs to be done about it "immediately"?

"What is the Governor waiting for?" Republican House Speaker Kurt Daudt said of Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat. "Minnesotans need more affordable health care options, and they need them before the end of this year."

They need them before the end of this year. That sounds like a timetable.

Well, Dayton responded. By October 21st, he outlined the problem in more specific detail than Daudt....

For the 95 percent of Minnesotans who are covered through the Medicaid expansion, MinnesotaCare, or their employer, the law is working. It's working for the 3 percent, who qualify for the federal tax credits through MNsure. But the law isn't working well for the 2 percent of Minnesotans in the individual market, who don't receive any financial assistance to pay for their coverage.

But then Gov. Dayton did something that Daudt did not. He offered action:

During the past couple of weeks, some legislative leaders have said a special session is critical. It is now time to walk the talk and agree upon a solution to provide much-needed relief. I urge the four Caucus leaders to decide quickly how they want their members to work with our administration to devise a plan of action for these Minnesotans who are not eligible for federal tax credits. That plan should be agreed upon before November 1st, so that the Minnesotans needing our help can know what it will be, before the Open Enrollment Period begins.

Then...one week later, the Governor came up with a specific plan to meet his own Nov. 1st deadline.

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton on Thursday proposed issuing rebates to an estimated 123,000 Minnesotans facing steep health insurance premium hikes but who make too much to qualify for federal tax credits. Dayton said his primary objective is a fast solution that provides "immediate financial assistance to people" and costs no more than $313 million.

Meanwhile...during this time, Daudt did nothing, offered nothing and only then began to talk with Sen. Bakk about the issue.

Time passes. On November 1st, enrollment begins. Daudt is still talking...

"I think there is a common realization, that folks in the Legislature understand that we're going to need to help some folks. This is really a crisis for the Minnesotans that are going through it," Daudt said.

Yes, it is a common realization. Dayton's proposal still on table.

Then the exchange runs into robocall problems and the people on the individual market must begin making choices.

Dayton's offer still there for special session. Daudt complains about MNSure, but no movement on agreements.

We move to the election. The attack ads on the Democratic responsibility for the health care mess are mailed in mass. Daudt continues his criticism, but still offers no solution.

The Republicans make gains in the House and take the Senate.

Daudt has an explanation...

Skyrocketing health care costs for individual buyers and problems with the MNsure insurance marketplace were huge concerns for Minnesota voters who delivered big wins for the GOP, Republican House Speaker Kurt Daudt said.

Yes, they were huge concerns, but they could have been addressed. Should have been addressed. Still could be addressed. But Daudt is too busy claiming victory to be bothered with it at the moment.

Another month passes.

December 7th...special session talk continues, but now tax bill and bonding bill are on the table.

Even though there's bipartisan agreement that all three of these things should be done, Democrats and Republicans have not yet agreed on the specifics -- and haven't been able to in on-again, off-again negotiations since May.

The parties said they were close. A time line emerges.

The real, final deadline to reach an agreement for a special session this year could be next Wednesday, Dec. 14. That would give staff time to prepare bill language by Friday so lawmakers and the public could review it that weekend. Under this timeline, lawmakers would return Dec. 20 to pass the three bills.

But no action. Dayton said he was willing to extend the deadline...again. And Dayton, obviously frustrated communicates with Daudt - who is now in the Virgin Islands for a conference...

"I have not spoken with you for almost two weeks, since you have been in Hawaii and the Virgin Islands," Dayton said in the letter, which accused Daudt of shifting his demands of a proposed Dec. 20 special session. In a news conference, he said Daudt and Republicans are not keeping their word.

Again, more delays and the "emergency" still exists.

More time passes....

Legislative session begins. More promises of action on individual premiums.

Dayton puts out a familiar plan:

Dayton, who rolled out his $313 million plan on the first day of session

But wait...there is stirring amongst the Republicans....

On Thursday, House and Senate Republicans rolled out their $300 million proposal to provide premium relief in 2017 and promised to act quickly. Their plan would include a three-month, 25 percent premium reduction for everyone on the individual market who does not qualify for subsidies -- an estimated 123,000 Minnesotans. After three months, only individuals who make less than $95,040 annually or a family of four making less than $194,400 would qualify for relief. The money to pay for the proposal would come out of the state's rainy-day fund.

The Republican plan in question calls on the Minnesota Management and Budget office, which Frans runs, to administer nearly $300 million in relief checks to more than 120,000 Minnesotans on state's individual health-care marketplace -- people who saw their insurance premiums skyrocket in 2017 but don't qualify for subsidies. Under the Republican plan, after several months Frans' office would also have to determine if someone met specified income thresholds to continue to qualify for relief. That will require a whole new system, Frans said, one that will take at least six months and $20 million to set up. "This is going to cost a lot of money, and it's going to take a lot of time," Frans said. "If we're going to go down that road, then it's going to make it very difficult to get this implemented in 2017."

So, the people involved in the emergency of high individual market premiums may have to wait till 2018 before getting any relief. That is a helluva response to an "emergency".

Dayton continues to offer his 25% rebate across the board...which costs roughly the same amount as the GOP plan, but is simple enough to implement quickly and efficiently.

So...there is the timeline for that health care emergency, where Daudt, at the beginning, asked the question,

"What is the Governor waiting for? Minnesotans need more affordable health care options, and they need them before the end of this year."

A relevant question at the time. But when the Governor responded and responded and responded, the more pertinent question became: